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Four Steps to Being Safer in Cyberspace

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, with the theme this year of “Secure Our World.” The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is proud to support this annual awareness effort by promoting four steps to improved security in cyberspace when using smartphones, tablets, computers and other internet-connected devices.

1. Multifactor authentication (MFA): MFA is already available on many of your online accounts, apps and programs. It adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to verify your identity in addition to entering your password, usually by sending a code to your mobile device via an email or text message. To authenticate your identity, some MFA systems use biometrics such as facial recognition or a fingerprint. Activating MFA on as many accounts as possible can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access. To enable it, check the Account Settings, Privacy or a similar option on your accounts.

2. Passwords: Strong, unique passwords are essential for securing your accounts. Experts recommend using passwords of at least 16 characters – including random combinations of letters, numbers and symbols – and ensuring that you have a unique password for every account.
To manage multiple passwords, consider using a reputable password manager, which securely stores your passwords and allows you to access them across devices. With a password manager, you need to remember only your master password.

3. Software updates: Make sure that your online devices have the latest program updates, paying special attention to anti-virus programs and internet browsers. Be on the lookout for notifications about available updates and install those updates as soon as possible. Activating automatic updates whenever offered saves you from having to remember to check for updates.

4. Phishing: Phishing scams are messages designed to appear to come from a trusted source, such as your bank or credit-card company. Phishing occurs when someone impersonates a legitimate person, business or organization to try to trick victims into revealing private data, typically by luring them to click on a malicious link that leads to a phony website. You can spot phishing attempts by recognizing signs, such as the use of language suggesting that the request is urgent and asking you for financial or other personal information. If a message appears suspicious, don’t click on any links, download any attachments or call any phone numbers included in the request. Report it to the real organization that is being impersonated or to your email provider – and delete the message. If you need to contact an organization to verify a message, contact the organization using information found on its official website or another legitimate source, such as on the back of your bank debit card or on your credit-card statement.

For more information about National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, visit the National Cybersecurity Alliance website at www.staysafeonline.org. For more cybersecurity tips from the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section, click here.
 

Behavioral Health Utilization Skyrocketed 40% in 2023 Compared to Pre-COVID Levels

Behavioral health utilization is accelerating even as other levels of care are diminishing in the wake of the COVID pandemic. A new report from the health care data and services company Trilliant Health shows that behavioral health utilization in the U.S. was up 40% in 2023 compared to 2019. Utilization is also accelerating. Behavioral health utilization increased 13% year over year in 2023, but only 5% year over year in 2022.
 

UD Basketball Coach Grant Spreads Message About Mental Health Awareness at Second Annual Spotlight Event

In 2022, Grant’s daughter Jayda, 20, died by suicide. Grant and his wife Chris tried on their own to get Jayda the help she needed before she died but weren’t fully aware of all the resources available. They are now and have dedicated their lives to make sure others are as well.

The Grants were surrounded by some of those resources Wednesday night on Tom Blackburn Court at UD Arena during the second annual Spotlight Town Hall, To Shine a Light on Mental Health. The national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number — 988 — was displayed on video boards around the arena as the Grants and others talked. Many different organizations from around the area and the state participated in a mental health resource fair before the event in the UD Arena concourse. The couple hundred people in attendance, including Grant’s men’s basketball team, walked away with a better understanding of where to go if they need help with mental health issues.
 

OhioMHAS Virtual Data Forum — October 16

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is pleased to announce our next Data Forum on October 16, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The purpose of the Data Forums is to:

  • highlight new data resources, share information about current and upcoming data projects;
  • facilitate opportunities for peer-to-peer learning;
  • demonstrate how data can be used in the daily practice of ADAMH Boards and Behavioral Health providers; and
  • discuss local needs related to data and data infrastructure.

The Data Forum series will convene on a quarterly basis to provide a venue for sharing timely and useful best practices, examples, and resources for ADAMH Boards and behavioral health providers that may be implementing or updating their own data systems and data analytic capabilities.

Intended Audience

This resource is intended for any stakeholders who are interested in learning about data and data resources, including ADAMH Board and Behavioral Health provider leadership and staff who work with, manage, and communicate data at all levels.

OCTOBER 2024 DATA FORUM AGENDA

  1. Review - State Opioid Response Grant Evaluation Results, Kraig Knudsen, OhioMHAS  
  2. Review – Ohio Youth Surveys, Jon Kraus (Ohio Department of Health) & Lara M Belliston (OhioMHAS)
  3. Update – Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring (OSAM) Network, Tom Sherba, OhioMHAS and Sarah Kriebel, OhioMHAS

Contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

Click HERE to Register!
 

Service and Recovery: How to Identify and Avoid Exploitative Practices in Housing Programs

The Office of Criminal Justice Services is partnering with Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services and Advocating Opportunity to share an overview of Service and Recovery: How to Identify and Avoid Exploitative Practices in Housing. 

Housing providers are crucial partners on the path to recovery, but even well-meaning programs risk harming those they help. This training will explore how the power dynamics inherent in housing programs can make participants vulnerable. How do we know when housing program expectations tip into exploitation? What program requirements lead to labor trafficking? This training will walk through several case examples to provide clear guidance on what not to do, as well as highlight some promising practices. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to screen for safe housing options, what practices to avoid, and how to spot red flags. Please register for Service and Recovery: How to identify and avoid exploitative practices in housing programs on Nov 7, 2024 10:00 AM EST at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4306260821803407446 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
 
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